Conditions 12/22/2014

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• • The conditions below are as of Monday morning, but the warm up begins this afternoon and continues through Christmas day.  Temperatures may reach 50 degrees on Wednesday with rain practically assured.  Cooler starting on Christmas, and we don't expect to lose all of the snow that we have, so don't give up yet for the vacation week.  Next update on Wednesday when we know just what is happening and how much snow we are losing.  
  • The only good that may come out of this thaw is that it will "reset" the process of ice formation on area lakes.  We thus may get some good thick ice before the next big snow, and this will minimize the chance of slush under the snow on lakes.
  • Thanks to both those who attended Saturday night's movie and to the business sponsors who provided raffle prizes.  It was a very successful fundraiser.
  • LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IDEA:  LOST SKI AREAS OF THE NORTHERN ADIRONDACKS  by Jeremy Davis.  Learn that there were once 14 ski areas in or near Lake Placid, and another 13 between Tupper Lake, Paul Smiths, Saranac Lake, Wilmington, and Jay.  Available at the Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid and The Mountaineer in Keene Valley. 
    
  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
  •               Base Depth - 18-24" (except less as one heads toward Paul Smiths)
  •               Surface Conditions -   Powder and crust
                         Km Open - 50
                 Remarks -  All sections broken out.  Still a few branches on some sections.   Hills require caution as many have a broken track in the center and breakable crust on the edges.
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 22"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  2-3 feet 
                Surface Conditions: Powder and crust 
            Meadow Lane now closed for the winter.  Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail.  Skis or snowshoes now required in the High Peaks, needed elsewhere.
  • All popular backcountry routes are skiable, but caution will be needed as surfaces will be quite fast after the thaw. Additionally, many hills will have a broken track in the center and breakable crust on the sides.  Avalanche Pass is in good shape thanks to some shoveling by the Lake Colden caretaker.  Wright Peak and Marcy are skiable, but caution is needed as it isn't quite mid-winter conditions yet.  The Calamity Brook Trail is skiable but rough as Newcomb only got 12" - plenty for Newcomb Lake and Moose Pond - but rough for the start from Upper Works.  Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing broken out and all downed branches removed.
  • Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are crossable.  No other lakes or rivers are safe to cross.  The only good that may come from next week's thaw is that we can start over building up a decent thickness of ice on the lakes so that there isn't "terminal slush" that prevents crossing any lakes without icing up.
  • __________________________________________________________________________
    
  • X-C SKI CENTER CONDITIONS: (Groomed, trail fee required)
    •      Mt. Van Hoevenberg X-C Ski Center:  
    •     50km of trails, open daily, rentals, lessons, 518-523-2811, www.whiteface.com/activities/cross-country-skiing 
                    Base Depth (packed) -  6" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 18"
                    Inches New Snow - 1
                    Surface Conditions -  Powder and hardpack 
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 50
    •               Remarks -   Snacks and rentals now available
    •      Cascade X-C Ski Center:
    •     20 km of trails with connection to 50km at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, open daily, rentals, lessons, restaurant, bar.  518-523-9605, www.cascadeski.com
                    Base Depth(packed) -   6" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 16"
                    Inches New Snow - 1
                    Surface Conditions -  Powder and hardpack 
                    Km Open -15
                    Km Tracked - 15
                    Remarks -  Ski shop open daily.  Bar and restaurant open weekends and Christmas week.  
    • 
               Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
    •     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
    • www.whitefaceclubresort.com
    •  Base Depth (packed) - 6"
                    Inches New Snow - 1
    •               Surface Conditions -   Powder and hardpack 
                    Km Open -  10
                    Km Tracked - 10
                    Remarks - Open for the season as of 12/20
    •              
    • Lake Placid Club Nordic Center  -  Open for Christmas week 12/26-1/4
    • 15 km of trails   518-523-2556
    •  Base Depth (packed) - 6"
                    Inches New Snow - 
    •               Surface Conditions -   Powder and hardpack 
                    Km Open -  15
                    Km Tracked - 10
                    Remarks - Dogs permitted with restrictions
    
               Paul Smith's VIC:
               20 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                           Base Depth (packed) - 3-5
                           Off track snow depth:  8"
                            Inches New Snow 1
                           Surface Conditions - Powder and hardpack
                           Km Open - 15
                           Km Tracked - 
                           Remarks -  All trails except the Esker Trail packed and skiable. Some limited set track.
    
                   Dewey Mountain - Saranac  Lake
                13 km of trails, open daily (including nights until 7PM Tue. - Fri.), rentals, 891-2697         http://www.deweymountain.com
                            Base Depth (packed) - 6"
                            Inches New Snow - 1
                            Surface conditions - powder
                            Km Open - 10
                            Km Tracked - 
                            Remarks - Trails packed, but no set track
    
                     Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                 10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                 http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
               4-10" of cover.  All trails packed and all but Big Tupper Trail tracked.